Stop pad for wind instruments



Dec. 19, 1950 J. A. coLLls sToP PAD FOR WIND INSTRUMENTS Filed Dec. 19, 1945 ,N di

IN V EN TOR. c/qMEs A. COLL ls.

ATTORNE Y Patented Dec. 19, 1950,.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,534,660 STOP PAD FORl ViIND INSTRUMENTS James A. Collis, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application December 19, 1945, Serial No. 635,858

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to musical instruments and more specifically to pads for the stops of wind instruments, such for example, as, saxophones, clarinets, and the like.

The composition of Stop pads has been wide and varied, featuring numerous materials and combinations of material, but the substance most often used has been a felt base with a surface of water-proof material such as fish skin, wax paper or leather. Often the pads are objectionable because of their rapid deterioration under the influence of breath condensate but equally important has been their failure to provide an adequate closure without undue absorption of resonance from the musical instrument, particularly if the external surfaces of the instrument surrounding the stop apertures have been worn unevenly. Application of the conventional pad to the key cavity almost always requires the Skill of competent workmen in the art. Imperfect stopping interferes with proper operation of the instrument and detracts from the tone quality. A pad which will operate more effectively or over a relatively longer period of time is therefore greatly to be desired.

In the present state of the art of pad development and wind instrumentation, care of the stops requires a greater amount of attention of the musician than any other part of the instrument, and the pads themselves require frequent replacement.

In addition to the requirement of durability and adaptability, maximum tone quality and undamped resonance dictates that the pads be provided with a smooth, substantially hardened, yet exible surface. It is intended that the pad, which is the object of this invention, incorporate these desirable features and that of easy adaptability so that replacement be made by the musician himself. Thus, by utilizing a thermoplastic agent of one of the well known varieties within the key cavities, the pad may be caused to adhere therein with the aid of mild applied heat such as that produced from a match. By

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provide a new and improved pad which will overcome the above named difficulties, fulfill the requirements specied, and have the characteristics set forth as desirable.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved resilient stop pad for the stops of an instrumentl which will readily adapt itself to the contour of an aperture with a, minimum of applied pressure.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved resilient pad which will not tarnish a metal surface to which it is applied.

A further object is to provide a new and improved closure pad for the apertures of wind instruments having a resilient body and glossy yet flexible surface which effectively stops the aperture without unduly deadening the tone of the instrument.

A still further object is to provide a pad which does not warp, loosen, or alter its shape after long periods of use. v

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved closure pad for the apertures of wind instruments having the desired character described which is simple in design, positive in action, readily and economically manufactured and easy to install, it being also an object to provide a readily adaptable pad havfing a resilient body portion, a rigid backing structure and a smooth non-damping operating surface.

- This invention also has for an object the improvement of prior art devices of similar character.

Other objects and advantages will appear and be brought out more fully in the following specication, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pad embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a sheet stock of raw material from which my pad may be cut.

Figure 3 is a sectional view of my improved pad in place within an instrument key pad holder.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of an instrument utilizing my improved pad.

. Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 showing the use of my pad upon a different form of instrument.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of my improved pad.

Figure '7 is a` perspective view of a still fulf ther modified form of pad.

Referring more particularly to the drawings I show a pad generally designated by the reference numeral I comprising a disc element I I of a sponge rubber-like material and a relatively rigid disc element I2 of the same diameter as the rubber-like disc element rmly secured together in axial alignment at their adjacent faces.

The rubber-like disc element I I may be formed of a, relatively closed-cell sponge rubber material having atleast oney molded face I3. The disc elements I-I andy I2 may be formed invarious manners but I prefer to cut the rubber-like disc element II from a relatively large at sheet- 20 of sponge rubber, though other types oi rubberor resilient material which maybe similarly handled may likewise be employed. The mate.- rials comprising the disc,` elements may be initially joined together by a suitable cementing operation and the discs subsequently cut from the combined sheets. Undersome circumstances, hewerer. the elements. may be cemented. tqseilier after-being cut orf-punched. Oui.

Before cutting or punching out the rubber-like discs, I prefer to coat thel sheet 2U upon the side corresponding te face. I3, with a layer 2 I. of met@ rial. form-iris atoueh, hard surfaced, but flexible. ecatins- When. the @eating has been dried and cured itcorripletes the composite steek sheet from which the discs I0 are cut. Although various types. of. materialsere. suitable. fer ap-plieaticn t0 tbe., rriclded surface to prevdee facing 0r. skin 0f the desired consistency, certain selutieiis. ef plastieised nolyriin'l,v resins and cement-like nimereielly as hard-drying, ii resin., the like riavebeen relied y advantageous.. These. and' simi: .adhere teriaeieiisly te the eed and. dry to a relatively hard surface consistency which has the property of reflecting sound waresv rather than absorbing 0r demping. there, When the stop provided with a pad ofvthis construction' is elesed.. the time er the instruments. will refrein true.

Toughness ofthe surface thus formed provides for long wear and the inherent exibilitypermits the material of' the disc elementl to press the surface into close contact with the edge or the stop aperture, making a true closure for every successive application of the pad to the stop.

Under some circumstances, a raw. edge 2 2', may be left upon the rubber-like' discs thereby preserving` ar uniform resiliency over the entire area of the vface I3 whether at av central or peripheral portion. Aeration of the edges is thereby facilitated, decreasing the tendency of the sponge to ret wiiheut increasing the. rigidity 0f the'side. Walls,

As shown, the disc I0 comprising the combined disc elements II and I2 is adapted to be used on a musical instrument IB in a manner permitting the molded face I3 to be applied to a stop I5.

In the many kindsof instruments on which the pad may be used various forms of pad retainers 26 are provided, such for exampleas a key 2T. The key is normally pressed to a closed position over the stop I5 by any resilient means such as a spring 29,'the key being mounted for rotation upon a pivot 43i). Tension of the spring in closed position of` the key is intentionally slight to permit easy fingering of the instrument.V The pad should rapidly and thoroughly adhere to the contour ofthe rim orifice under slight pressure.

some instruments, particularly saxophones having a diameter as large as two inches or more. In such instruments the tension of the spring is customarily relatively great so as to force an adequate closure. Relatively great tension of the spring often results in diflicult and strenuous lingering operations.

Figure 5 illustrates a key 26 applied to an instrument I6 wherein the rim of the stop aperture has a raised edge 35 upon which the outer portion of the pad is pressed.

Furthermore, especially in apertures of large diameter, stop pads are generally provided with a sounding member such as a central, hat, metal disc applied tothe central part of the under side of the pad to act as a resonator and prevent damping of the resonance of the instrument over the large, area covered by the pad. Such metal resonators are not necessary in my device because of the resonating surface of the layer 2| having the iiexible, yet hard, glossy surface described on iheeeeretine ieee. ef the dise- In my pads, especially Where used 0.11. Tele.- tively Ierse. Qreriines... the backing strip. er dise element I2 is particularly adi/antageous.v 'Ihis dise element celibe mede 0f metal Weed., plastic or. equivalent siiii'. .materiel 0f` e thiekriess approximately equal tol that ofy the rubbeblike disc element II. A padV having ay total thickness of 1A; of an" in ch for example'may bef made up of a st iffening disc element having a thickness Oi rc 0f an inch anda rubber-like disc element of equal thickness, This construction tends to present a more uniformly dat surface It; and avoidsr both the necessity of a stiff spring and the break down of the celly walls of the sponge rub,-r ber brought about by undue pressure.

In using pads having my constructionY the pad may be merely pressed into place in the retainer; andsecured therein as by glue,` shellac or, the like. Shella is especially suitable in that itmay be dissolved by slight heat applied to the retainerfor removal or replacement ofV the pad but dries under ordinary temperatures to hold the pad within the retainer.

I have found that the materials specically referred to herein are best applied to the sheet 20 by spraying or brushingv and then by cur-ing at a temperature of approximately F. for. approximately ten minutes. Such curing produces a desired glazed lm upon the surface of the sponge material, preventing absorption or deadening of sound by the pad and preventing tarnish. It should be noted that the problem of resonance absorption by pads of relatively smaller diameters has not been met by. pads heretofore used, and that such absorptionv is deemed inevitable because. of the difficulty ofapplying a metal disc to the small otherwise sound-absorbent structure. Due to thev glossy surface of materials such as hard-drying rubber, cement, resin, or the like, when cured as de; scribed, apertures of any size bore may be effec-r, tively stopped without substantial loss of resonf. ance whether the aperture is very large orV very small.

By way of example, I have determined` that a layer of surfacing material of a thickness of approximately .003 to .005 of an inch is suitable.

In the embodiment ci Figure 6 I show a disc. I0', comprisingr a single uniform body ofV closed cell sponge rubber 3l), having a lower face I3"I of molded sponge material coated with cured Vulcabond or the like. This preferred embodi: ment is preferably 1/3 of an inch thick and is and the like, the bese freies are. formed by Oriilees. 75. used Without rigid Support and may he. dire-stili cut from a suitably treated sheet of closed cell sponge rubber of relatively high density and small cell structure. In this form the disc may be applied directly to a stop receptacle and is particularly suitable for use in closing apertures of small bore.

Another form of pad l0" is illustrated in Figure 7, wherein one face of a rubber-like disc Il is joined to a rigid disc l2'. The pad I0 is formed with an axial opening 3| extending from top to bottom of the pad. This form of pad is adapted for use in instruments having a primary as well as a secondary closure or aperture over a single stop. The rigid upper disc l2 tends to preserve the form of the annular pad I0. If desired, a second layer of rubber material having a superimposed film of the herein described surfacing material may be applied to the top face of the rigid disc I2 so as to furnish a pad having two effective faces for the stoppage of the full tone orifice and the half tone orifice respectively. It is further obvious that the embodiment of Figure 7 may comprise a single apertured disc of uniform sponge rubber construction without utilizing a rigid disc in association therewith.

While I have herein described my invention in what I have conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of my invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices.

Having thus described my invention. what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with a wind instrument having a Asuccession of stops, a sponge rubber pad adapted for closing said stops, said pad comprising a discoidal cellular body having edges of closed cellular structure and flat faces, and a uniform film of hard rubber cement coating one of said flat faces.

2`. A -pad for stopping the orifices in a musical instrument comprising a sponge rubber disc having at least one smooth face, a relatively rigid disc of substantially the same diameter and thickness as the sponge rubber disc, said rigid disc being attached to a face of the sponge rubber disc other than said smooth face and a glazed nlm of adhesive attached to said smooth face, said adhesive comprising a hardened plastic material having tough, hard sound-reflecting and exible characteristics.

3. A pad for stopping the orifices in a musical instrument comprising a sponge rubber disc having at least one smooth face, .a relatively rigid disc of substantially the same diameter and thickness of the sponge rubber disc, said rigid disc being attached to a face of said sponge rubber disc other than said smooth face, and a lm of smooth surfaced material of the nature of hard surfaced cementitious resin adhering to said smooth face, said pad having an axial bore therethrough.

4. In a substantially discoidal stop pad for wind instruments comprising a body of closedcelled sponge rubber and a smooth surface formed on at least one side thereof adapted when mounted in said wind instrument to selectively close a sound selecting aperture, the improvement comprising a thin, yieldable ilm on said smooth side of glossy, hard-surfaced resinous material.

JAMES A. COLLIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,816,578 Hammann July 28, 1931 1,918,506 Weeks July 18, 1933 2,204,766 Michalek June 18, 1940 2,264,591 Sander Dec. 2, 1941 

